893.00/12–1648: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Smith) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 16—4:04 p. m.]
2936. Suggestions emanating from my Chinese colleague39 and other sources in and out of China as Nationalist situation deteriorates [Page 657] to effect “coalition” government needed have familiar and ominous ring of a death knell.
Whatever complexities of momentous events taking place there, I trust Department is keeping constantly and clearly in mind, as an established axiom, realization that only sure way for Communists to secure early and complete control all China is through tested device of just such “coalition” or “popular front” regime. However strong they may look at moment, I should consider likely Chinese Communists must soon reach end their immediate exploitable lines. It would be surprising at that point, while sitting on their conquests, they did not try to get their hands on Nationalist Government machinery, and that their efforts were not accompanied by clamor from Communists, fellow travelers and gullible innocents all over world. As we see it here, such program should not only be determinedly resisted but deliberately exposed in light lamentable example of Eastern Europe.